Govt employees in Kerala to get pay hike

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 2 (UNI) Despite the announcement of Assembly polls, nearly half-a-million Government employees and teachers in Kerala will get a pay hike from March, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said today.

Talking to newspersons here after a Special Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said the Government had decided to implement the report of the Pay Revision Commission before the announcement of the polls.

However, the Government could not take up a decision on giving other benefits, including more arrears, due to announcement of polls.

He said the Government would seek the clearance from the Election Commission (EC) to implement the Pay Revision Commission recommendations.

Mr Chandy pointed out the Government had already made budgetary provision for the implementation of the report which would result in an additional financial commitment of Rs 1,601 crore a year.

In case of pensioners, one rank-one pension rule would be applied.

UNI CR GM PV DS1401